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OK. Its never a bad idea to begin by quoting Einstein:

Coincidence is Gods way of remaining anonymous, the white-haired one once said.

So there. Einstein said so.

And hes right. Theres no such thing as a coincidence. And sometimes the great guiding spirit, otherwise known as The Universe, has a delicious sense of humor.

Its no coincidence that, a few weeks after some suits and other blatherers pondered cutting sports in Groton or at least making them pay-to-play that sports and the kids who play them have given the town its most uplifting story in a while.

Bravo, Universe.

Fitch High is one of but three schools in Connecticut (and the only non-school of choice) to have placed its baseball and softball teams in the state semifinals, joining St. Joseph and Holy Cross. Pretty neat story. And the halls of Fitch ought to be buzzing early this week in anticipation of both games.

Once again: Sports are the great uniter.

The softball team, Connecticuts defending Class L champ and No. 1 ranked team, plays Joel Barlow at 4 p.m. Tuesday in West Haven. You would enjoy watching them play. Not because they win all the time (although that helps), but because of their joie de vivre.

I stood behind the bench for the entirety of last Fridays win at Masuk and laughed my way through the game. Everybody had something funny to say at some point. Even the kids who didnt play led the cheers (sophomore Casey Flax is hilarious, by the way). Arielle Cooper, the coach, goes on mid-game streams of consciousness that ought to be recorded.

And so even in this knockout game, there was a sense of amusement emanating from all of them. This is sports. Competition wrapped in fun. The way it should be. Id wager that even the most ardent alarmist in Groton would have enjoyed watching what sports are teaching the kids in town.

Then theres baseball. What a story. Theyre 13-13 and two wins away from the schools fifth state title. Theyll play at the new Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford against North Haven on Tuesday at 7.

Jeff Joyce, Fitchs wordsmith/coach, spent much of the regular season outside of his normal realm (English) instead opting for math. He was counting wins. Lets see if we beat them and them we might be able to get to eight wins and get into the state tournament.

Now the Falcons are in the semis, taking a most arduous route. Youve heard of the road not taken? Theyve taken them all. First round: Meriden, 128 miles round trip. Second round: New Canaan, 180 miles. Third round: New Fairfield, 218 miles. Thats 526 miles. Its virtually the same distance as if the Falcons took a road trip to play in Ottawa. Thats Canada.

So much for fatigue.

Its worth noting Joyce and Cooper are both Fitch alums. They were educated in Groton schools, played sports (for free) there and now impart their wisdom to their own players. Theyre not all that much older than their players, either. Have you any idea, all you non-sports people, the power and influence coaches have on their kids?

Anna Quindlen wrote this once: It's not the prom picture. Adolescence is that tenuous time between parental protection and personal responsibility.

I cant think of any group of adolescents in better hands than the boys and girls at Fitch, whose participation in sports has led them to Cooper and Joyce, who teach all the right things with equal parts earnestness and gentle humor.

This is what sports engenders.

Maybe by this time next week, two new banners go up in the Fitch gym. Two sources of pride not just for the school, but for town seeking an identity, forever trying to meld the vagaries of Groton Town, Groton City, Noank, Groton Long Point, Mystic, the military and everyone else.

Funny how sports are always there to unite. The village green.

Think about that next time someone advocates cutting them.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro

See the article here:
Fitch teams are bringing pride to Groton when it's needed the most - theday.com (subscription)

Heres a look at the rest of the nights action featuring USL clubs.

Rochester Rhinos (USL)vs. GPS Omens (Mass.): The Rhinos will look to repeat their Second Round success at Capelli Sport Stadium at 7 p.m. ET when they welcome GPS Omens to upstate New York. The Rhinos cruised to a 3-0 victory against FC Motown in the previous round, and would visit the New England Revolution with a victory.

Jacksonville Armada (NASL) vs.Charleston Battery (USL): In a rematch from the Third Round a season ago at Southern Oak Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. at 7 p.m. ET, the Battery will look to turn the tables on the Armada. Charleston currently tops the USLs Eastern Conference, and is tied for the conference lead with 21 goals as Romario Williams sits second in the league with eight tallies this season. Jacksonville took a 2-1 win after overtime a season ago.

Reading United AC (PDL) vs.Harrisburg City Islanders (USL): Reading and Harrisburg will meet for a fourth time in the Open Cup at Don Thomas Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The City Islanders needed a penalty shootout to advance in the Second Round, while Reading knocked off the New York Cosmos 3-2 in one of the tournaments major upsets so far. Harrisburg holds a 2-1-0 edge in the previous meetings between the teams in the tournament.

North Carolina FC (NASL) vs.Charlotte Independence (USL): North Carolina and Charlotte will meet for a third successive season at this stage of the Open Cup, with kickoff at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Both sides have taken a victory apiece in the previous two meetings, setting up the third encounter between the clubs nicely. The Independence enter having won three of their past four league contests, including a 3-1 road win against Orlando City B on Saturday.

Miami FC (NASL) vs.Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL): The Rowdies visit South Florida to face Miami at FIU Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The winner earns the right to take on Orlando City SC in the Fourth Round. Tampa Bay sits second in the USLs Eastern Conference, and will be looking to reach the Fourth Round for a second consecutive year. Miami, meanwhile, was defeated at home last season at this stage, and will be wanting to give a better account of itself in this years competition.

Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL)vs.San Antonio FC (USL): The Roughnecks and San Antonio FC meet at the Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff with SAFC still undefeated this season, and the Roughnecks showing some strong home form of late. San Antonio has gone undefeated in 11 games to start the USL season, in part thanks to a stingy defense that has recorded five consecutive shutouts in league play. The Roughnecks have won all three of their most recent home games, scoring 10 goals in the process, and the side also knocked in five goals in the Second Round of the Open Cup to defeat the Premier Development Leagues OKC Energy FC U23.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL)vs.OKC Energy FC (USL): One of the USLs better rivalries over the past two seasons resumes at Weidner Field at 9 p.m. ET as Energy FC and the Switchbacks look to advance to the Fourth Round again this season. Wednesdays game is the first time the teams have met in the Open Cup, but if its anything like the last time the teams met in a knockout game when Energy FC won in a penalty shootout in the 2015 USL Cup Playoffs we could be in for another outstanding contest for the right to visit the Colorado Rapids in the next round.

See more here:
USL Clubs Set for Open Cup Opportunity - USL Soccer

After falling in the day game 9-2 to TCU, Texas Longhorns baseball (37-21) took down the Horned Frogs in a must win Big 12 semi-final knockout game 9-3 on Saturday night.

The Longhorns had some wiggle room going into Saturday: the Horns had a 2-0 record in the Big 12 tourney and were in the winners bracket, while TCU was 2-1 and facing elimination.

Texas just needed one win over TCU, while the Horned Frogs needed to beat the Longhorns twice.

The Horned Frogs got the best of the Longhorns in game one, taking advantage of a poor performance by Texas starter Kyle Johnston and an overall weak defensive effort by the Horns. Despite a leadoff homer by Patrick Mathis in the first, TCU countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and really never looked back.

The Horned Frogs had 14 hits on the afternoon, including a double and three triples.

The night game was a different story.

Texas started freshman Blair Henley (Morgan Cooper had some arm soreness), and the youngster delivered his best ever collegiate game.

Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on a sac fly and two RBI singles to give Henley a cushion against the electric TCU offense.

The Horns allowed two unearned runs in the second after an RBI single scored two including a man who reached base due to a rare David Hamilton error. (All in all, Texas had an uncharacteristic five errors across todays two games).

The Longhorns, however, blew open the scoring in the top of the fifth when Michael Cantu launched his sixth homer of the year; a three run blast to the deepest part of the ball park.

TCU continued to unravel as the Horned Frogs had to dig deeper into their bullpen. In the eighth, Texas added two more runs on bases loaded walks to make the score 8-2.

Despite not having Cooper available, the Horns pitching depth showed in how steady the Horns held up. Henley exited after six complete innings, and Chase Shugart continued right where Henley left off, delivering three scoreless innings to close the game out.

Texas will now face Oklahoma State (29-25) tomorrow at 1 pm CST. The Longhorns beat the Cowboys in both games the two teams played on April 28, by a score of 5-4 and 7-0.

Oklahoma State, however, is in desperation mode as Josh Hollidays team needs to Big 12 championships automatic bid in order to even make the NCAA tournament. The team is peaking at the right time, and will not go down easily tomorrow.

The Cowboys have burned through their most productive starters, but also have had the advantage of playing one less game than the Horns thus far in the tourney. Oklahoma State has gone 3-0 in the tournament and never needed to play in a knockout game.

If Morgan Cooper is still experiencing arm soreness tomorrow, expect Texas to start Connor Mayes (5.06 ERA) at pitcher. The junior has had an up-and-down season, but has historically been a clutch performer in the Big 12 tournament throughout his career.

For the Longhorns, a Big 12 championship win would give them a case for hosting a regional in the NCAA tournament, albeit a small one. I still expect Texas to be a firm two seed, even if they take care of business tomorrow.

Still, the tournament has allowed Texas to bump its resume from a three seed to a two. Perhaps more importantly, the Horns are riding a wave of momentum that could make them a dangerous team in the NCAA tournament.

You can catch Sundays game on Fox College Sports at 1 pm CST tomorrow. This is your open thread. Hook em!

More here:
Texas Longhorns beat TCU 9-3, advance to Big 12 championship - Burnt Orange Nation

Group F is wide open, but for Ecuador there is only one, simple result required: win this game.

Ecuador can't win Group F, but it will finish either second or third if it wins this match against Senegal - and either way it would qualify for the knockout rounds, since a win would, at the very least, put it amongthe top four third-placed teams in the group stage. A draw or a loss sees Ecuador go home early from the U-20 World Cup: only the win will do.

For Senegal, this is a must-not-lose game. A tie would be sufficient to see it through to the knockout rounds: if Saudi Arabia loses or draws against the USA, it would give Senegal second place in the group; it will at least be good enough for third in Group F, and four points and a positive goal difference will see the team into the round of 16 as a third-placed group-stage qualifier if necessary. The win, of course, would be better, not least because it might see Senegal win the group (if the USA doesn't beat Saudia Arabia, or Saudi Arabia doesn't beat the USA by at least three goals). But the tie will do.

What cannot happen is a result that sees both these teams into the next round. A loss for either side will see it eliminated from the tournament, and the draw eliminates Ecuador. This is an early knockout game for both teams. One team will definitely be out of this World Cup at the final whistle, and the other will definitely be moving on to the round of 16.

Current standings in Group F:

Perlivesoccertv.com, here's where to find the game if watching from the USA:

Continue reading here:
How to watch Ecuador vs Senegal in 2017 Men's World Cup, Group ... - Once A Metro

Tab Ramos' U-20 men's national team beat Senegal 1-0 early Thursday, setting the stage for a World Cup showdown with Saudia Arabia on Sunday. Brian Sciaretta has a match report and analysis here.

AFTER ANOTHER GOAL from youngster Josh Sargent, the United States U-20 team put on a first-rate defensive display on Thursday to defeat Senegal 1-0 and move to the top of Group F at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.

The Yanks looked especially strong in the first half, breaking the deadlock in the 34thminute when Tyler Adams sent a ball that sprung Luca de la Torre behind Senegals defense. The Fulham midfielder then sent a perfect pass to Sargent who beat Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye with a hard shot. De la Torre now has two assists and a goal in the first two games of the World Cup.

For Sargent, 17, the goal marked another milestone in his remarkable two-month run. In April he was the leading scorer for the U.S. U-17 team in World Cup qualifying, scoring five goals. Tab Ramos made the surprising decision to quickly call him up to the U-20 team for the World Cup and that decision has paid massive dividends as the St. Louis native now has three goals in his first two games.

In the second half, the Americans emphasized defense but Sargent forced Mbaye to make saves in the 48thand 62thminutes. But the defensive approach was far from bunkering as Senegals offense showed little ability to generate anything dangerous.

Thanks to the central defense tandem of Erik Palmer-Brown and the now-healthy Cameron Carter-Vickers, Senegal was only able to muster two relatively weak shots on goal in the entire game.

After four minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle blew and the U.S. walked away with the deserved victory. With four points in its first two games, a win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday would be enough to clinch the group. A draw on Sunday would secure a spot in the knockout rounds although the four points it has now is likely enough, as four third-place finishers advance to the knockout round.

Here are my thoughts on the United States U-20 teams win over Senegal

Coming into the tournament,Tottenham central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers' health was in doubt. He is one of the teams top players but he missed the previous five weeks with a knee injury. In 2015 he was among the best defenders at the U-20 World Cup but now, as a full professional, he was expected to take his performance to another level.

The English-born Carter-Vickers erased any concern over his health and fitness and put on a strong display against Senegal. More importantly, his chemistry with team captain Erik Palmer-Brown (also a hold-over from the 2015 U-20 team) was strong. Both are among the best teenager American players and both played up to their potential.

Senegals normally efficient attackers ran into a brick wall in Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown.

The bottom line is that if Palmer-Brown and Carter-Vickers play this well, or even improve as the tournament progresses, the U.S. can go very far. That pairing can cover up a lot of weaknesses.

In World Cup qualifying, Danny Acosta featured at left back and struggled for several games. With Marlon Fossey injured, Aaron Herrera was moved into the right back position. Against Ecuador, Herrera had a nightmare first half and Acosta was merely average.

Both players improved significantly against Senegal. Acosta is still learning the left back position but had his best game for the U-20s on Thursday. He was rarely beaten defensively and pushed forward effectively into the attack on occasion.

Herrera raised his game significantly. He was beaten by a faster Senegal attacker inside the first 10 minutes again but overall worked extremely hard and was effective in the win. It is not easy to shake off a very poor game in a major tournament. Young players can crumble after bad games and it takes quite a bit of mental strength to rebound the way Herrera did.

U.S. Soccer awarded its man of the match to Carter-Vickers and many fans believed Sargent deserved the honor. Thats fair and both players have strong arguments.

But Tyler Adams also has a case to be the best player in the win over Senegal. In the game's only goal it was his pass that got the ball behind Senegals defense. Beyond that sequence, the New York Red Bulls midfielder gave a complete performanceboth offensively and defensively. His passing was the best it has ever been at the international level and defensively he forced turnovers and closed down passing lanes. His stamina is on another level as he continued to cover tons of ground as Senegal pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time.

As one of the teams youngest players, Adams is also eligible for the 2019 U-20 team. He is maturing quickly and has improved a lot since qualifying. The value of playing first-team minutes with New York is paying dividends. It will be interesting to see if offers come in for him after this tournament.

On Monday the Yanks came back from a two-goal deficit to secure a point against Ecuador. Today Ramos' men held on for a win against a very strong Senegal team that placed second in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. In both instances the team shows the fighting spirit American teams used to be known for.

Overall there seems to be a great spirit within this team. When one player is struggling, others know how to cover for him. Similarly, players dont seem to hang their head when they make mistakes. Instead, the find a way to improve. The team didnt give up after it lost Gedion Zelalem in the opening half of the first game. Herrera found a way to shake off a poor outing in game one. Adams went from a mixed performance against Ecuador to a stellar one against Senegal.

The team has shown that it is a group of fighters and one that seems to problem-solve quickly. The first two games have been quite impressive.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia pulled off a surprising 2-1 win over Ecuador. While Saudi Arabia played well, Ecuador was remarkably wasteful and Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Ameen Bokhari made the difference. Ecuador unleashed 24 shots and 10 were on frame; Saudi Arabia only managed three shots on goal. Ecuador had more offensive opportunities but Saudi Arabia won the game by being far more clinical.

The United States should be the favorite heading into Sunday's game (5am ET, FS1, Telemundo) and if the Americans can score early, it can frustrate Saudi Arabias chance of notching another upset against the run of play.

It's hard to see Ramos changing the starting lineup but he must start to focus on the first knockout game. The yellow card that Derrick Jones picked up against Ecuador is a concern. Another card against Ecuador will have him suspended in the knockout stage. The only other logical replacement for Jones is to move Palmer-Brown into that spot and then shift Justen Glad into central defense.

The fact Glad is healthy and managed to play a few minutes on Thursday also makes him a candidate to start. Glad could either play in his natural central defense position if Palmer-Brown moves to midfield or he could play out of position at right back.

Goalkeeper: Jonathan Klinsmann Right back: Aaron Herrera Central defender: Erik Palmer-Brown Central defender: Cameron Carter-Vickers Left back: Danny Acosta Defensive/holding midfielder: Derrick Jones Defensive/holding midfielder: Tyler Adams Right midfielder: Brooks Lennon Central midfielder: Eryk Williamson Left midfielder: Luca de la Torre Forward: Josh Sargent

See the original post here:
Sargent Scores Again, US U-20s Move Atop Group - AmericanSoccerNow.com